Pre- to Middeployment Assessment of Unit Focused Stability Impact on Cohesion
Abstract
This third in a planned series of reports on research with U.S. Army Alaska's 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) sought to (1) assess the impact of heightened personnel stability (under Unit Focused Stability [UFS] manning) on cohesion, and (2) identify factors that enhance or detract from (are predictive of) this impact over the 6-month interval between unit pre- and middeployment. The same 669 Soldiers from platoons organic to three infantry battalions, one field artillery battalion, and one cavalry squadron completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires at the end of garrison-based predeployment and again midway through overseas deployment. Results revealed that horizontal (Soldier to Soldier) cohesion remained unchanged, whereas vertical (Soldier to leader) and organizational (Soldier to unit/Army) cohesion dropped from pre- to middeployment. Leader effectiveness and learning environment were the best predictors of cohesion, especially vertical and organizational cohesion. Efforts to stabilize personnel under UFS during predeployment were perceived to have a positive (albeit limited) impact on cohesion, performance, morale, and unit commitment, with performance being the primary beneficiary. JRTC-based training during predeployment was also perceived to enhance middeployment individual and collective performance. Results were interpreted to suggest that (1) heightened UFS-imposed personnel stability will not by itself increase cohesion from pre- to middeployment, and (2) without a concerted effort to promote effective leadership and a positive learning environment for Soldiers, horizontal cohesion is unlikely to change from pre- to middeployment, whereas vertical and organizational cohesion is likely to drop. Findings also suggest that personnel stability, as well as JRTC-based training, during predeployment are both likely to benefit individual and collective performance during the first 6 months of deployment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA458762
Entities
People
- Joseph D. Hagman
- Monte D. Smith
Organizations
- Human Resources Research Organization